Nibbles

May 28, 2007May 28, 2007

Indonesia disrupts WHO system

IPR concerns threaten ‘flu vaccine system as countries seek payment for sharing viruses.

May 27, 2007May 27, 2007

New natural anti-oxidant source

The seed extract of the South American SapindaceaeÂ berry guarana (Paullinia cupana) has been found to have high levels of anti-oxidant activity.

May 27, 2007May 27, 2007

Another deadly disease

Tomato leaf curl virus has appeared in California, threatening the entire US tomato crop.

May 27, 2007May 27, 2007

Farmers Celebrate Biodiversity Day

Farmers Celebrate Biodiversity Day in Ireland …

May 27, 2007May 27, 2007

CABI e-Zine

CABI has a new e-Zine. And in the first issue, how farmers in Sri Lanka are using the internets to grow better crops.

1. All the videos from the recent Eating to Extinction event in London celebrating food diversity.
2. If you want to eat rare breeds or their products, the Livestock Conservancy has a website for you.
3. ILRI policy brief on how pastoral systems can usefully diversify.
4. The BBC rounds up the history of the domestication of the donkey without, alas, mentioning the Livestock Conservancy or pastoral diversification. Spoiler alert: ancient Roman donkeys were really big.
5. NPR interviews the manager of the ICARDA genebank in Lebanon.
6. Local Oregon paper visits the USDA genebank in Pullman.
7. It’s the turn of the Native Seed/SEARCH genebank to feature in the news.
8. Want to know what “duragna” is? This press release from Cornell will explain all. I think we included the original paper in a recent Brainfood, but I can’t be bothered checking. Anyway, trust me, it’s interesting. Spoiler alert: it has to do with cereal diversity.
9. Brits told to grow more faba beans and use them to make bread. Census takers not available for comment.
10. Fascinating project on the history of saffron cultivation in eastern England. Now that would spice up all that faba bean bread.
11. The Kenosha Potato Project deconstructed to within an inch of its life by Modern Farmer. We’ve blogged about this innovative breeding project here before, have a look. Ah no, I just have, and in fact we haven’t, though we have blogged about William Whitson, an independent tuber breeder, who is however a long-time member of KPP.
12. Meanwhile, in Peru, local potato landraces are finding a new market via chips/crisps. Pretty sure we’ve blogged about this too. We are so on the ball.
13. Gene editing for conservation? Yes, why not? But nothing on crop and livestock species in this succinct explainer, alas.
Published on January 20, 2023